Can opening and dispensing apparatus



21, 1956 J. J. O'NEILL 2,759,634

CAN OPENING AND DISPENSING APPARATUS Filed Sept. 50, 1952 INVENTOR United This invention relates to devices for permitting removal of the fiowable contents of a can by the insertion of a pouring or dispensing spout into the can, and is more particularly directed towards unitary apparatus which will insert such a spout into operative condition on a can and at the same time provide a convenient handle for holdling the can in a pouring position.

Heretofore, numerous devices of the general nature just described have been offered to the purchasing public. However, in spite of the alleged advantages of such devices, they have not received any widespread or enthusiastic acceptance. There are several reasons for this lack of acceptance, among them being their complicated structural design and attendant high cost of manufacture, their inability to uniformly and consistently insert the pouring spout into the can, their failure to provide an adequate fluid seal, their frequent clogging of the passageway between the can and spout, etc.

Accordingly, it is an object of the present invention to provide a dispenser for removing quantities of liquid or granular material from cans or similar containers in which novel means are provided for easily and positively causing the pouring spout to be inserted into the can whereby the contents of such can may be poured through the inserted spout.

Another object of my invention is to provide a device of the character described in which the can contents may be easily removed without the heretofore present danger of the paper surrounding the can effecting a blocking of the passage of the can contents.

A further object of this invention is to provide apparatus of the above type in which improved seal means are incorporated for preventing leakage of the can contents during the pouring thereof.

A still further object of the invention is to provide apparatus of the character described which includes means for easily venting a can, and in which such vent means may be effectively sealed when it is desired to store the can for future use.

Yet another object of this invention is to provide dispensing apparatus of the type described in which a novel combination handle, and toggle joint is operatively connected to the pouring spout whereby the end of the latter will under all conditions be introduced into the can along a diameter thereof.

The invention possesses other objects and features of advantage, some of which, with the foregoing, will be set forth in the following description of the preferred form of the invention which is illustrated in the drawing accompanying and forming part of the specification. It is to be understood, however, that variations in the showing made by the said drawing and description may be adopted within the scope of the invention as set forth in the claims.

Referring to said drawing:

Figure l is a perspective view of my new device, showing the same in operative position on a can whereby the contents of the latter may be dispensed.

Figure 2 is a cross-sectional elevational view, taken rates Patent 0 'ice substantially in the plane indicated by the line 22 of Figure 1.

Figure 3 is an enlarged top plan view of the apparatus.

Figure 4 is cross-sectional view taken substantially in the plane indicated by line 44 of Figure 3.

Figure 5 is a cross-sectional view of the spout end taken substantially in the plane indicated by line 5-5 of Figure 2.

The apparatus of this invention is particularly adapted for use on conventional cylindrical type cans or con tainers, such as those used for the packaging of fluid or granular materials. In normal practice, the consumer will usually open such a can with a punch or opener and transfer all of the contents thereof into a more suitable dispenser, or in the alternative, continue to use the thus opened can as the need for its contents may require. However, with this latter procedure, it is apparent that the opening made in the can is not adequate or satisfactory from either a dispensing or sanitary point of View.

As shown in the drawing, my apparatus is illustrated in operative position on a can, generally designated by the numeral 11, and includes a cylindrical side wall 12, and a closed disk-like top 13 and bottom 14. In the packaging of most consumer products, the can side wall will be covered by a sheet of paper (not shown) on which a description of the goods may be imprinted, and in connection with such paper, it has been found that with the prior art devices, no satisfactory arrangement has been made to prevent the paper from clogging the dispensing opening in the can. in broad terms, the device of my invention includes a pair of generally semi-cylindrical bandlike complementary elements 16 and 1'7, the former including a dispensing spout 18, and cam means 19 for effecting insertion of the spout into the can wall 12. As will be seen in Figure 3, the front band 16 closely approximates the can contour, but at the distal ends 21 thereof extends slightly beyond a diameter of the can in substantial tangential relationship to the can wall at such diameter. Adjacent each of said ends 21 is disposed a clip 22 having inwardly directed flanges 23 arranged to be seated on the upper periphery of the can, and position element 16 thereon in proper relative position. It will also be noted that the inner peripheral surface of elements 16 and 17 is provided with a notched portion 24 arranged to receive the lip portion found in practically all metallic cans.

Dispensing spout 18 is secured to element 16 substantially medially of the ends thereof and includes a tubular portion 26 having its axis normal to the diameter of the element at the point of passage of portion 26 through the element. The inner end of portion 26 is cut with a downwardly directed taper 27 so that when element 16 is moved radially inwardy toward the can, as will be presently explained, the taper will provide a punching edge permitting its more ready entrance into can wall 12. The outer end of tubular portion 26 is preferably curved upwardly and outwardly, terminating in a generally horizontally disposed pouring opening 28 arranged to dispense the can contents.

Band 17 is of similar shape to band 16, except it will be noted from Figure 3 that the ends 31 thereof terminate short of the can diameter 22 when the device is installed on the can. Thus, the confronting edges of the bands 16 and 17 are slightly spaced, and as will be presently explained, this spacing is variable depending on the operative positions of certain portions of the mechanism. Also, as will be described, the two bands are connected so as to permit relative rotary movement in a general horizontal plane as viewed in the drawing. The foregoing is accomplished by means of the cam actuating means and mounting therefor.

Referring to Figure 1, it will be seen that I provide a bifurcated member 36 whose general longitudinal axis is disposed perpendicular to the vertical plane of the edges of element 16 and to the can diameter 22 when the apparatus is in operative position thereon. The distal ends 37 of member 36 are bent downwardly and are secured to outer peripheral portions of band 16 at equally spaced distances from spout 18. Member 36 is also provided with a pair of spaced ears 38 at the other end thereof, such ears extending diametrically beyond the band 17 and contain a pair of horizontally extending axially aligned apertures 39 for the reception of a pivot pin 41. Disposed above a medial portion of member 36 is a transversely extending bar 42 having down-turned ends 43 secured to outer peripheral portions of the ends 31 of band 17. NIember 36 is movable under bar 42 and the two bands are prevented against complete disassembly by means of a U-shaped bracket 44 extending upwardly from lugs 46 adjacent the rear end of band 17 and overlying another portion of member 36.

Pivotally mounted on pin 41 is a combination handle and actuator 47 which in its upper or non-operative position (indicated by dot-dash lines in Figure 2) permits relative separation between bands 16 and 17 by virtue of the fact that bar 42 and bracket 44 which are secured to band 17 may freely slide over the upper surface of member 36, which, as above stated, is fixed to band 16. Likewise the two bands may be relatively rotated in a generally horizontal plane. However, attention is directed to the cam surface 48 on handle 47, such surface being brought into contact with the outer peripheral surface of band 17 intermediate the lugs 46 thereof when and as the handle is moved in a clockwise manner as illustrated in Figure 2. This cam action produces several desirable results which will now be discussed, with particular regard to the initial loose positioning of the device on a cam. As will be understood, when my apparatus is initially placed on a can, band 16 adjacent the spout, must be spaced from the can a distance at least equal to the maximum axial length of the spout tubular portion 26 disposed inwardly of said band. Ring 16 will be vertically supported on the can by means of the inwardly extending flanges 23, while band 17 will be supported by bar 42 and bracket l i, but will. not necessarily be oriented relative to band 16. Now, as handle 47 is rotated, cam 48 will bear against ring 17 urging said ring into intimate engagement with the can periphery, and likewise forcibly urging band 16 towards band 17, thereby forcing the tapered end 27 of the spout into the can. It is believed apparent, and as an important feature of my invention, that as the spout and cam are diametrically opposed, and at right angles to can diameter 22, the spout will always be directed exactly radially inwardly, insuring easy and proper entry into the can. Also, the two end portions of band 16, which will substantially at all times be in point contact with the can periphery, will serve to guide the spout into its proper can puncturing position, and the floating rear band 17 will likewise assist in this desirable relationship.

As handle 47 is moved to the end of cam 48, at which time the spout portion 26 will have entered the can, as best shown in Figure 2, the handle will be locked in the position indicated therein by the provision of a flat cam 51 Which will engage the can wall. The other end of the handle may likewise be provided with a flattened surface 52, so that the handle will resemble a conventional pitcher handle, and by means of which the can may be raised, tilted, and the contents poured therefrom through the spout In order to prevent any leakage of the can contents at the point of insertion of the spout, a resilient washer or gasket 53 is concentrically positioned on spout portion 26 adjacent the juncture of the latter with the inner peripheral surface of band 16. As the bands 16 and 17 are drawn together, the gasket will be compressed between band 16 and the can wall 12 and will effectively prevent i any flow of the can contents at this area, even if such contents are the most volatile and non-viscous liquids.

Vent means are provided to permit flow of fluid through the pouring spout, and in connection with such means, it will be pointed out how such means may be arranged to be releasably sealed when the can is not being used. Disposed in member 36, I provide an upper bore terminating in a diametrically enlarged counterbore 57. Mounted for slidable axial and radial movement in said bores is a plunger 58 having a point 59 at one end thereof and a manually engageable cap 61 at the other end. A radially extending collar 62 on said plunger prevents upward removal thereof, while a spring 63 interposed between cap 61 and member 36 normally urges the plunger into its uppermost or non-operative position. After the device is placed on a can, it is only necessary to strike the cap and force the point '59 into the can top 13 to provide a vent opening 64. Normally, the spring 63 will raise the plunger to unseat the plunger point from the opening 64. However, in order to seal the latter, one or more threads 6-6 are provided on the plunger between collar 62 and the point, such threads being capable of engaging the can top surrounding the opening 64 by depressing the plunger and rotating the same. With the vent opening closed, air will be prevented from entering the can, and consequently the contents thereof, even if of somewhat perishable nature, will be preserved against spoilage.

Another important feature of my invention lies in the construction of the spout portion 26. As above stated, if a flat or even a tapered end of a spout is inserted in a can provided with a paper wrapping, a generally disklike piece of paper will be severed and is capable of seriously retarding or even preventing the flow of fluid by overlying the spout end. By referring to Figure 2, it will be seen that I have eliminated this undesirable arrangement by providing an upwardly extending narrow lip or tab 71 disposed centrally of the tapered spout portion. This lip will engage the paper and keep the same away from the spout opening. It will also be noted that I provide one or more apertures 72 on the upper portion of the spout adjacent the taper thereof in order to insure emptying of the entire can contents.

From the foregoing description, it is believed clear that I have provided a simple, effective dispenser which may be repeatedly used on the same or different cans of the same size, and which will insure optimum dispensing characteristics.

'1 claim:

1. Apparatus of the character described comprising a first generally semi-circular band-like member, inwardly extending tabs on said member adapted to engage the upper portion of a can, .a tubular spout having a portion thereof extending diametrically through said first member, a second generally semi-circular band-like member having end portions disposed in confronting relationship to the end portions of said first member so as to define therewith a substantially common diameter, an element secured to said first member and extending radially beyond said second member and substantially intersecting said common diameter, and cam means on said element engageable with said second member for drawing said members together.

2. Apparatus as set forth in claim 1 including means secured to said second member and overlying said element for slidably supporting said second member on said element.

3. Can opening and dispensing apparatus including a narrow :band of generally rigid material formed in substantial semi-circular shape with end portions extending slightly beyond the diameter thereof, a tubular pouring spout extending radially through said band in generally perpendicular relationship to said diameter, an element secured to said band and including a portion extending beyond said diameter in substantial normal relationship, a second hand of generally rig-id material formed in substantial semi-circular shape with end portions thereof disposed in confronting relationship to the ends of said first band, means on said second band overlying said element for supporting said band therefrom, and cam means pivotally mounted on said element for rotation about an axis lying in the general plane of said bands and engageable With said second band for se lectively urging said band end portions together.

4. Apparatus as set forth in claim 3 in which said element includes a pair of legs having downturned distal end portions, secured to said first band at equal spaced circumferential distances from said spout.

5. Can opening and dispensing apparatus including a narrow band of generally rigid material formed in substantial semi-circular shape with end portions extending slightly beyond the diameter thereof, a tubular pouring spout extending radially through said band in generally perpendicular relationship to said diameter, a forked member overlying said band in generally perpendicular relationship to said diameter and secured to said 'band 6 at equi-distant spacing from said spout, said member having an end portion extending radially beyond said end portions, a second band of generally rigid material formed in substantial semi-circular shape with end portions there-of disposed in confronting relationship to the ends of said first band, a transversely extending bar on said second band slid-ably overlying said member, a cam pivotally mounted on said member 'end portion and provided with a first curved surface and a flat surface respectively engagealble with said second band upon rotation of said cam.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,069,388 Colwell Aug. 5, 19113 1,806,363 Narbo May 1 9, 1931 1,960,452 Grundhand May 22, 1934 2,056,530 Miller Oct. 6, 1936 2,058,910 Plunkett Oct. 27, 1936 2,320,084 Jundt May 25, 1943 

